Palestinian bystander shot at Hizma in critical condition

Dec. 5, 2015 2:27 P.M. (Updated: Dec. 5, 2015 2:27 P.M.)

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- A Palestinian bystander hit by live fire during an alleged attack at an Israeli military checkpoint near Jerusalem earlier this week is still in critical condition, relatives said.

Khalid Yacub abu Jibna, 47, was taken to the the intensive care unit of the Ein Kerem branch of Hadassah hospital when he was shot with live fire on Wednesday, Khalid's brother Firas told Ma'an.

Israeli forces reportedly shot Jibna in the back when they opened fire on Mazin Hasan Ureiba, who the army said shot an Israeli soldier near the Hizma checkpoint.

The bullet settled in Jibna’s abdomen and required surgery for its removal, Firas added.

Firas told Ma’an that Israeli police called his mother and told her about what happened to Khalid following the incident.

Jibna is a father of seven children and lives in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem.

Wednesday’s incident at Hizma was one of several attempted, alleged, and actual attacks to take place since Oct. 1.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an at the time that forces opened fire on and killed Ureiba after he exited his vehicle and opened fire on the forces.

Israeli paramedics said that one bystander had been critically injured.